I’ve been using this camera since summer 2009, bringing it all over the world, in cold or warm/humid countries. I kind of bought it on instinct(well the salesman was good), but I really made the right decision back then.
Using the EXR Mode, I take really awesome photos, even of fast moving objects, without changing any parameter. Overall I believe that this camera is still at par with most middle-range compact cameras out there, mostly thanks to this mode. People congratulate me(well, almost) for the shoots, and I can keep a beautiful record of all my trips! Under good light conditions, it is even at par with some high-end cameras! You can also use high-speed SD cards if you take too many pictures, to speed up the transfer to your computer. And it has a face recognition soft of course.
But the drawbacks are huge: using this EXR Mode empties the battery in no time, and I often have to recharge it after a morning of frenetic shooting! I usually go back to the basic mode, with lower quality pictures. On top of that, it only take under average night picts. but you cannot expect much better for mid range cameras anyway.
My only dilemna has been whether I should go for a high end camera, as I can manage the battery problem. But the encumbrance is weighting heavily on the side of the FinePix.
Anyway great job in making this camera!